The Cross of Christ: No Hidden Agenda

Some organizations and religions are very secretive and protective, only revealing information about their agenda to those who've joined them, or have sworn an oath not to disclose what they see and hear within the walls of their organization.

Christianity isn't anything like this.

In fact, Jesus revealed as mush as He could about His intentions for being with mankind during His earthly ministry, and the Bible speaks openly and honestly about so many topics to anyone willing to read it. Christianity doesn't hide anything.

Whether it's about mankind...

The nature of God...

Who Jesus was...

Why our world is sinful...

How God views sin...

God's remedy for sin...

The fact that we're all sinners...

We all need forgiveness for our sins...

And that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation for all of mankind!

The truth of Christianity isn't blurred, obscured, or hidden to anyone. It's as open as it can possibly be, because God's desire is that all who are willing to repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, do so before they breathe their last breath on this earth. 

No hidden agenda...

No secret rituals...

No blood oaths...

No special underwear!

Just the plain truth about mankind's condition and God's amazing grace!

  

We needed a Saviour, and God sent Jesus to be such...

We needed forgiveness for our sin, and God sent Jesus as the only means of receiving such...

We needed to know love, and God sent Jesus to demonstrate such...

We needed to know the truth, and God sent Jesus to reveal such...

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" -John 14:6

Do you believe.......?

Missional Monday

 

Ed Stetzer has authored many books including, Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community, Comeback Churches, and Planting Missional Churches. In his book, Breaking the Missional Code, he writes:

Missiology is birthed from our understanding of who Jesus is. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). Who Christ is and how he is sent matters. How we do mission flows from our understanding of God's mission and directs our missiology. How we do church is grounded in Scripture but applied in culture. Thus we have the intersection of who Jesus is and what he has sent us to do (Christology); the forms and strategies we use to to most effectively expand the kingdom where we are sent (missiology); and the expression of the New Testament church that is most appropriate in this context (ecclesiology). [1]

Some things to consider as we continue on our journey's for the LORD...

An Industrious Young Lady

In a world filled with negative and unproductive role models for our daughters, it's refreshing to know that the LORD has saved a remnant who still aspire to greatness, and aim high in their calling as ladies.

Here, at The Male Domain, we wholeheartedly support families who are striving to serve the LORD with their time, talents, and treasures; and with that said, let me introduce you to Olde Angora - an industrious young lady you should get to know!

For the moms and daughters who frequent The Male Domain, I encourage you to spend some time looking over the beautiful products available on her site, and if able, make a purchase or two!

Church Is a Horrible Hobby...

Last night at work I was listening to my boy, Matt Chandler, via "The Village Church" podcast on my iPod and thought he made some interesting remarks.

He said that going to church and "trying" to be a "good Christian" is a horrible hobby. Trying to keep enough rules to be ok with God, trying to be good enough to make those around you happy and so on, is a horrible hobby. If it isn't out of love for Christ and an act of worship, it's drudgery. Admit it, he's right. I've been there, you've been there, we've all been there, I think, if we're honest.

He said it's like "Halloween" every week.

You put on your "Christian face," get all dressed up and pretend to be something you're not. When asked "how's it going?" you respond "good brother, praise the Lord." Then you walk away knowing you just lied and deep down in your heart you wish you could have told him the truth, sat down, and got some prayer.

Let's be honest about who we really are. We are born-again, Holy Spirit regenerated, Christ followers and Christ worshipers who struggle to live holy lives and battle against the enemy every day of our existence. We are men who everyday must be ready for battle the minute our feet hit the floor. We must be ready to fight at a moments notice for our souls, our families, and our God!

Although we can fool everyone in church, we cannot fool the one who presides over the church. Jesus sees us for who we really are. So why do we pretend on Sunday mornings? Why can't we just be who we are? Sinners saved by God's amazing grace!

Robert Robinson wrote about this in his hymn, "Come Thou Fount," with these words; "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, o take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above."

Does your heart betray you everyday like mine does ? You know the life you want to live, but you feel so prone to wander. Does the church invite the "messy" people like me in? Or do we have Halloween every week? Do Pastors set the example of how to repent of sin, cry out to God for mercy, and plead with the Lord to make us more like Christ every week from the pulpit? Or do they seem so untouchable that the only way to seem anything like them is to fake it, like many of them do? On the streets of Chicago this is called perpetrating, or false flagging. Pretending to be something you're not.

In the end, in some way, I guess we all play church on Sundays. Lord knows I do. Wouldn't want to disrupt the culture you know. If people really knew me for who I am inside they probably wouldn't like me very much. And if I knew them for who they really are, I probably wouldn't like them very much. So I guess we'll go on having Halloween every week in order to "keep the peace." After all, isn't that what good church folk do? God help us...

Taking Kids To See Franklin Graham

My kids are excited and ready to go, because tonight we're heading to Moody Memorial Church in Chicago to see Franklin Graham as he closes out this year's Founders Week for Moody Bible Institute.

Franklin, in case you don't know, is the eldest son of Billy Graham, who is one the most well know Christians of all time. Franklin is also founder and president of Samaritans Purse, a Christian relief organization.

My oldest son, Stephen Josiah, is a huge Billy Graham fan, and has been waiting for this day to come for some time now. This is a great opportunity for me and my four oldest children to get some time together and do something that will inspire and encourage them in their faith for years to come.

We'll be leaving early to pick up my Mom and several of my nieces and nephews as well.

If you're in the Chicagoland area, carve out a Friday night and join us up there. Doors open 6pm, with the event beginning at 7:15pm!

One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven

I had the privilege last Sunday of hearing Mark Cahill speak live at Bethel Church in Crown Point, IN., and Man let me tell you, he shook me to the core.

His passion for evangelism is unparalleled and his call to the church in America is a much needed wake-up call.

Mark is a former basketball player who played his college ball at Auburn and was teammates with Charles Barkley. After getting his degree in Business and working in the field for a while the Lord called him out and he began his journey of sharing his faith and summoning the people of God to do the same.

He's written a couple of books, "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven," and "One Heartbeat Away," which you find on Amazon. I would encourage you to visit his website and order his books, listen to his messages, get to know him, and let him challenge you. I don't think I'll ever be the same after hearing him speak. Just last night at work I was able to share my faith with an unbeliever and present the gospel message to him. To God be the Glory!

The Power of the Gospel...

Video produced by Marshill Church in Seattle for their 10 year anniversary back in '06.

It's an awesome thing to see the gospel transform lives!